Secularisation in the USA

Opinion polls found that church attendance had been constant at 40% since 1940. However this figure may have been exaggerated.

Hadawy er al found that in one county ohio the attendance level claimed in opinion polls was 83% higher than researchers actually counted going into church.

Evidence suggests that this tendency to exaggerate churchgoing is a recent development

Hadaway shows the problem of simply asking people whether they attend church. The 40% rate of self reported attendance masks a decline in a ctual attendance in the USA. because many people who have stopped going will still say they attend if asked.

Secularisation from within

Bruce argues that america emphasis on traditional christian beliefs and glorifying god has declined. Instead religion has become psychologised- a form of therapy.

American religion has declined popular by becoming less religious- it has become secularised from within. Its purpose has changed from seeking salvation in heaven to seeking personal improvement in this world.

Religious diversity and relativism:

Bruce identifies practical relativism among american christians- accepting that others are entilted to hold beliefs different to one's own.

Lynd and Lynd (1929) found that in 1924 94% of churchgoing young people agreed with the statement "christianity is the one true religion". By 1977 only 41% agreed.

Absolutism has been eroded- we now live in a society where many people hold views that are completely different to ours. Undermining our assumption that our own views are absolutely true.